Fluid applicator



April 14, 1942- L. v. JAKOB ET AL.

FLUID APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 16, 1940 and Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED FLUID APPLICATOR Leslie V. Jakob and Fred Goldvsher, Chicago,

Ill., assignors to E. A.'Petersen, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 16, 1940, Serial No. 356,975

11 Claims. A (Cl. 132-13) The present invention relates to iiuid applicators, and more particularly to fountain applicators adapted to apply fluids, including such viscous liquids as hair-waving preparations and the like, to the hair.

Various fountain combs have been suggested heretofore. None of them, however, have come into commercial use for cosmetic purposes. Since a definite need exists for an article of this type, it will be understood that the devices of the prior art have failed to obtain acceptance because-they did vnot satisfactorily perform the functions for which they were intended. More particularly, they were awkward to handle, diicult or impossible to sterilize, incapable of applying uid uniformly to the scalp and the entire thickness of the hair, leaky, subject to stoppage due to closure yof ducts by drying out of the cosmetic fluid therein, and incapable ofgiving the operator positive control of the flow of fluid therefrom. In beauty parlors it is customary to apply curling uids, wave-setting fluids, and the like to the hair while the same is being arranged according to the style. On evaporation of the volatile portion of these preparations,a lm is deposited around the individual hairs and vserves to keep them in place according to the style of coiffure intended. Our improved fluid applicator is specially adapted for use in beauty parlors. It is sanitary, simple in its construction and operation, and does not get out of order, even after-prolonged use. Further, our device applies-cosmetic fluids to the hair far more uniformly, economically, and effectively than has hitherto been possible.

' Thus it will be seen that a principal object of our invention is to provide a uid applicator of such construction that the portion which comes in contact with the hair may be detached with ease from the remainder of the device, sterilized effectively, and replaced with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

` Another object is to provide a fluid applicator having a detachable, reversible fluid-applying portion capable of insertion into the device with the fluid-discharge grooves in said fluid-applying portion facing either to the right or to the left, so that a single device may be used on both sides of the head, and operated with equal facility by right-handed or by left-handed operators.

4- Another object is to provide a cosmetic device which parts the hair and deposits fluid on the scalp between said parted hair in such a manner that said .fluid moistens said hair after said hair 'has returned to the-position in which it is intended to be. maintained by the action of said fluid. f

Another object is to provide a device ofthe class named, the discharge grooves of which are not subjectto clogging by the hair.V Y

Another object is to provide a toothed fluid applicator in which each tooth moistens the entire layer of hair With which it makes contact.

Another object is to provide a device-which' moistens the hair uniformly while consuming a smaller quantity of fluid than has heretofore been the case, and thereby reduces the time necessary for the proper drying of the hair.

Another object is to provide a device whichis positive inaction, which retains without leakage uid placed therein, and which unfailingly discharges said uid in a quantity at the control of the operator.

Another object is to provide a cosmetic applicator which automatically returns the liquid in the fluid-applying means to the fluid reservoir whenever the thumb ofthe operatoris removed from the feed lever, thereby eliminating dripping and dribbling, and effecting a substantial saving in the quantity of fluid consumed. f l

Another object is to provide a device of the class described which will function efficiently even when the fluid reservoir thereof is nearly empty. y

y Another objectis to provide a fluid applicator every part of which may be cleaned thoroughly and with ease. f

Another object is to provide an article that is simple to assemble and inexpensive to manufacture, and having parts which are easily replaced or repaired. i I Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

To attain the above objects or such further objects as vmay appear hereinV or be hereinafter pointed out, Wemake reference to the accompanying drawing for purposes of illustrating the structure of our new and improved fluid applicator,in whichdrawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodimentof the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of our improved device with a portion of the cover broken away to show the mechanism beneath. y v

Figure 3 is a longitudinal view in central vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a transverse view in vertical Sectio taken substantially on line 4 4 of figure 2.

part throughout the speciication and the varie ous views of the drawing.

Referring now to thedrawing in detaiL'it will be seen at Figure 1 that our'irnproved fluid applicator comprises a handle portion 'I "and a fluid distributing portion 5, Vsaid haindleportion I in- 5 cluding a reservoir for the retention of fluid and manually controlled means for discharging fluidy .fromV said reservoir into sa-id fluid `distributing portion 5, said A-luid distributing portion 5 being comb shaped and preferably being detachi'iblyr connected Withsaid handle portion 'I.

The reservoir Visiilled by removing the cap 25.

Fluid is 'discharged from the reservoir through end, and replaced in said handle portion. Thus the fluid applying portion 5 may be inserted in the handle portion I with the feed grooves 21 facing either to the left or to the right at the option of the user. The anges 3I t intothe corresponding grooves 32 in the handle portion I. The portion 5 makes a fluid-tight seal with the portion I, and may be made to t so snugly that no further mechanism is needed to hold it in place. In addition, however, one 'ormore lugs 33 may b'e provided on the portion 5, and may engage a dimple 34 in the portion I, for the purpose of locking said portion 5 into place to prevent end play in the groove 32.

Figure 6 isv an enlarged transverse sectional Aview on-line '626 of Figure 4, and shows the "shape 'cross-'section of one of the teeth of the huid-applying -portion 5. It is to be noted that the tooth encloses somewhat more than a semicylinder, `so that the orifice is somewhat narrower than fthe diameter fof the groove. Thus capillarity retains liu-id within the groove until said uid is ej ected by pressure applied -by -means the uid distributing portion y5 by 'depressing .the 1 feed lever'v?. If desired, a stop 8 may be provided to limit the maximum displacement Yof said feed lever A2.

Asis shown in vFigure 2, the feedlever 2', the

shaft l9 and the pressor plate` I constitute la single piece.l The pressor plate -I0 rests upon the removable elastic diaphragm I -I. nIf desired, said diaphragm I-I may be cup shaped and placed `with its convex surfacev facing upward. The diaphragm I I 4is maintained -in sealingv contact with the walls of thereservoir 24 Aby the coverj23 and the screws`30. f, l

As is more plainly shown in Figure 3, the nger lI lies wholly within Vthe reservoir 24.V "Therounded end 22 of said finger 'I is located immediately below'thepressor :plate I0, and is/ separated from said pressorplate l0 onlyby the diaphragm I. The other end 23 of the finger -1 -is forked-and clasps the valve A|52, which 'seals the vent cl3. The Vfinger] is rotatably mounted -on `thersupporting Vbase fI4 by means of the pin I5, which passes throughholes in a :pair of ears lIIi .on the supporting base I4 and another pair of earsx-If'l Y vents a hlm of uuid of Ithe feed lever-2. Theshape-of lthe teeth prefrom forming Abetweenthe teeth. A

` Figure 7isanfenla1ged plan view ofthe-finger 1. The rounded end `22 makes contact withthe underside of the diaphragm I-I. The forkedend 723 grasps'the valve I-2. y

In using 'our new improved, fluid applicator, the cap 25 vis first rremoved Yand `the fluid which is to be applied -to thehair -and -soalp 'is poured into thereservoir 24, after which `the capis re- .placed.'- The flanges 3| on the fluid applying 'portion 5 are slipped into the rgrooves32, and the comb-like element k5 is pushed in asl-far asit will anchored into the floorY of the `lfrandlerportion I by the flange I8, and is held in placeby thescrew I9. The valve I2 is'maintained in 'sealing rela- Y tionship to the vent I3 by -thefhelicallspring 20. 'I-he vent I3 connects they reservoir 24 with ythe distributing channel 2 I in the fluid-applyingsportion 5,

A Figure 4 is a vertical sectionalview-onlineLfQ lthat said teeth s are openen-the Aimttomsgfthus permitting the scalp as well as the entire layer; of hair thereon to be moistened by 4thedarticle fof theinstantinvention.

The y fluid ,applying portion 45 is symmetrical about the median vertical gplane `perpendicular to Aits longitudinal axis, and therefore maybe re' moved 'from the handle portion I, turnedend for The manner in which the feed l grooves l l go, whereupon one of the-snaplocks '33 vengages Athe dimple 32', and the comb-like element 5 -is thereby locked Iinto place, l,

- Our yfluidapplicator is lheld inthe hand-of ythe operatorlr'like an ordinary hair brush, and the fluidfapplying portion 5 is combed rthrough the hair-*in suehmanner that the ungroovedffaces ofthe Vteeth56 face in the direction in which the Courbis moving.` Whendtfis desiredto meisten the `l'1afir, thefeed 4lever 2 is depressed with-the thumb, whereupon fluid "jets from the grooves-2-1 -iu-n the teeth 6-.andis deposited upon theIhairand thescalrlp.A The -velp'city with which the'fluids discharged ris controlled by the =fo1jce with which the feedlever 2 is depressed,` and `thequantity of fluid emitted depends f -upon the angle through which said-@ever gisturned. Thestop 8 prevents the lever 2 from being'depressed-further than -is necessary. W'hen the thunib is removed from-the feed Aleverfzfs aid lever sp rir 1gsI back -to its frest positie, and the -flow of .fluid from '-t l=1e *article instantly ceases. Fluid i within the fluid-appl? ing portion 5 is `au-tolnatically suckedtback'into hereserveireit Hav/ing describedl -the manner, .in which the present invention is to "-beiused, we shall/now explain the operation of lthemechanism. iDe- Lprelssin'g the 'feed -lever' 2`causes fthepressor--plate `I l)V 4to depress the Vexible elastic diaphragm II and thereby places pressure upon the rair and Lliquid Twithin thereservoir 1211.` Simultaneously the finger l rotates on -the .pin f5 .andraises the valvejl2 awayfrom the vent I3. --S'incejthefuid in thereservor is under pressure whenever the vent vis open, said hfiuid flows into ftheadistributing channel 2 I :and yis distributed to -thergrooved teeth lA from whence it -is ejected 1upon'rthe scalp and hair. When the thumb v'of wthe operator -is removed from the feed lever 2, the elastic diaphragm Il springs `back to its original configuration and forces the feed lever 2 back to its rest position. If desired, an air vent may be placed in the cover 29 to prevent the air pocket between said cover 29 and the diaphragm II from inter- Even when the quantity of liquid in the reservoir 24 is very small, our device operates eiliciently. The liquid of course accumulates in the lower AVend of the` reservoir in thevicinity ofthe vent I3. When the diaphragm is deformed'by depressing the feed lever 2, the air in the reservoir is compressed and exerts sufficient pressure upon `the liquid to cause it to flow into the comb portion and squirt therefrom. Similarly, When the diaphragm II is allowed to spring back to its initial configuration, the partial vacuum in the reservoir sucks the fluid in the comb portion back into said reservoir.

It will be observed that no part of the mechanism pierces any wall of the reservoir; thus the possibility of leakage is entirely eliminated.

After our fluid applicator has been used on one person, the comb portion 5 is simply pulled out and set aside for subsequent sterilization. Since the vent I3 is sealed by the valve I2, and since no fluid remains in the comb portion 5, as eX- plained in detail above, no leakage or dribbling vis encountered-when said comb portion 5 is mere- Lly slipped'into place and the device is ready to Vbe used on the next customer. In order to clean the entire instrument, the cap is removed, theA feed lever 2 is depressed, and a stream of water is flushed through the instrument.

Our improved fluid applicator may, of course, be made from a variety of materials. We have found it convenient to mold the handle portion I and the comb portion 5 of plastic, such as Bakelite, Tenite, Vinylite or the like. The diaphragm II may be molded of rubber or other resilient material. The button which functions as the valve I2 is preferably of soft rubber, but plastic, metal or other material may be used if desired. The remaining parts may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel or other metals, or synthetic materials.

It is to be understood that while we have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, variations therefrom may be made without departing from the scope of our invention.

Thus it will be seen that we have fully disclosed a new uid applicator and the construction, operation and advantages of the same, and have pointed out the manner in which our invention accomplishes the objects hereinabove set forth, as Well as others which will be apparent from this specification and the appended claims. Having thus described our invention and illustrated its utility, we claim:

1. An applicator for cosmetic fluids comprising a hollow handle, an elastic diaphragm in sealing contact therewith, means for applying pressure to said diaphragm, a pivoted finger within said hollow handle and adapted to be rotated by said pressure-applying means, a stopper attached to said finger, a vent normally closed by said stopper,

spring means, adapted normallygtoV maintain said stopper in sealing contact with said; vent, means bn said handle adapted to retain, a feeder comb detachably secured thereto inl-,communication with-.said vent, and aijfeedereomb comprising a grooved rib and afplurality of grooved teeth projecting therefrom, said feeder comb beingy adapted to be slidably connected with said slot in said handle with the groove in said rib in communication with the vent in said handlethe groove in said rib communicating with the grooves in said teeth, the grooves in said teeth extending throughoutthe lengths thereof and piercing the ends thereof. 1 f 2. A fluidapplicator comprisingA a hollow handie having anelastic `wall portion, means for applyingv pressure to said elastic wall portion, a valve within said hollow handle and adapted to be opened by said pressure applying means, means for automatically returning said valveV to closed position when pressure is removed therefrom, a vent normally closed by saidvalve, means adapted to retain a uid applying element detachably secured to said handle and. in communication with said vent,.and a detachable reversible fluid applying element comprising-a c hanneledV symmetrical fluid distributor and `a pluralityof grooved teeth connected thereto, thev channel in said iiuid distributor being adapted to 'communi- `cate with the vent in said hollow handle, the

grooves in said teeth communicating with lthe channel in said fluid distributor, said grooves extending throughout theV lengths of said teeth and piercing the ends thereof. v v

3. A fountain device for applying fluid to the hair and scalp including a hollow handle adapted to retain fluid therein, a detachablecap to facilitate` filling said handle with fluid, a deformable,

elastic diaphragm in sealing contact withgsaid hollow handle, a pressork plate upon said diaphragm, a manually operatedlever to `depress said pressor plate, a pivoted nger Withinv saidl hollow handle and adapted to be rotated by said pressor plate acting through said diaphragm, one

end of said finger being in contact with the under side of said diaphragm and the other end of said finger being forked and grasping a stopper of relatively soft material, a vent normally closed by said stopper, a spring adapted to normally maintain said nger in shut-off position whereby said stopper is held in sealing contact with said vent and said diaphragm is retained in its initial configuration, an elongated slot in the under side of said hollow handle, said slot being sub-l stantially T-shaped in cross section, open at the bottom and one end, and in communication,

through the top thereof with said vent, and a feeder comb detachably connected with said handle, said comb comprising a longitudinally grooved rib with its edges flared outwardly and adapted to fit into said T-shaped slot, and a plu- Y rality of teeth projecting fromsaid rib, said teeth being hollow and vertically slotted from said rib to the extreme tips of said teeth, the interior of said teeth being in communication with the groove in said rib.

4. A fountain device for applying fluid to the' hair and scalp comprising a hollow handle n adapted to retain fluid therein, a deformable, elastic diaphragm in sealing contact therewith, compressing means above said diaphragm, a pivotednger within said hollow handle, a lever on said handle adapted to operate said-compressing means and rotate said pivoted finger, a stopper attached to one end of said finger, a 

